Method for treating ammonia-containing organic waste

Abstract

A method is described for treating animal manures and other organic wastes to destroy pathogens, reduce noxious odors, and immobilize water-soluble pollutants, thereby producing a pasteurized, granular product useful as a soil amendment. In a described implementation, the solids content of the organic waste is raised to a predetermined level to create air-filled pore space, and the pH is raised sufficiently to liberate endogenous gaseous ammonia in the air-filled pores for a predetermined time. The level of gaseous ammonia is sufficient to significantly destroy pathogens in the manure. In addition, alkaline material and/or iron salts are added to the organic waste to render certain water-soluble pollutants insoluble.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for treating organic waste material, said method comprising: 
       reducing a level of pathogens within an organic waste material by converting endogenous ammonia to gaseous ammonia and retaining the gaseous ammonia within the organic waste material; and  
       immobilizing a pollutant within the organic waste material.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immobilization comprises adding a quantity of an iron salt to the organic waste material. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the iron salt is selected from a group including ferrous chloride, ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, and ferric sulfate. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the quantity of iron salt added comprises at least approximately 1% by weight of the organic waste material being treated. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immobilization comprises adding a quantity of an alkaline material to the organic waste material. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the alkaline material is selected from a group including fluidized bed coal ash, fly ash, coal combustion ash, flue gas desulferization byproduct, cement kiln dust, wood ash, pulverized limestone, rock fines, spent water treatment lime, and gypsum. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immobilization comprises adding iron salt and alkaline material to the organic waste material. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pollutant is selected from a group including water-soluble phosphorous and water-soluble trace metals. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the water-soluble trace metals include copper and zinc. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pathogen reduction comprises adding a quantity of a mineral byproduct to the organic waste material, wherein the mineral byproduct chemically reacts with the organic waste material to liberate endogenous ammonia and to render a water-soluble pollutant within the organic waste material insoluble. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising adding iron salt to the organic waste material after the level of pathogens has been reduced. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a pH level of the organic waste material is maintained above approximately 8.5 for a period of at least approximately 24 hours following addition of the iron salt. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic waste material comprises a material selected from a group including municipal wastewater sewage sludge, paunch manure, brewery sludge, and fermentation biomass wastes. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic waste material comprises animal manure. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the organic waste material further comprises manure from an animal selected from a group including beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, swine, turkeys, sheep, and horses. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the organic waste material further comprises bedding material.